the vast majority of the 8,000 or so drones in use by the u.s. military don't look like this. they're more likely to look like glorified model airplanes equipped not with missiles but cameras. together with high-flying surveillance drones they alert troops when they're in danger. >> in afghanistan, you have soldiers that will write letters back and say you know our patrol was saved today because you were doing overwatch on it. >> reporter: now droans are headed off the battlefield. they're already coming your way. >> a little less than three pounds. >> reporter: the california company that sells the military something like 85% of its fleet is marketing them now to public safety agencies. >> flying behind us is the cube system. it's a small unmanned aircraft that is designed to give first responders an immediate eye in the sky so they can find lost kids. they can investigate accidents. they can support disaster recovery for earthquakes in california, tornadoes in the midwest, hurricanes on the gulf coast. >> reporter: steve gitland is a vice president of the company. >> less th